Compass Rose (4e Equipment)

From D&D Wiki

This orrery sits on a massive oaken table, with a giant astral diamond in the center. Seven other gemstones of diamond, sapphire, opal, emerald, ruby, jade, amethyst, and a chunk of what appears to be iron ore spin around the central orb, humming in a sound that almost seems to speak to you.

Power ♦ Daily (Free Action)

You spend an action point. The Compass Rose then gives you an assignment, as well as benefits and drawbacks based on your Concordance score with the Compass Rose. You cannot spend an action point until the assignment has been accomplished, or until the Compass Rose lifts the geas. The geas can also be lifted with a Remove Affliction ritual (the geas is considered a level 12 affliction).

Note: This lore applies to the Patronage Campaign Setting, for which the item was originally created:
Commissioned by Emperor Xarlem when he founded the Order of the Compass, this artifact is currently housed in the Order’s main chapterhouse in the City of Rose in Carraway. In addition to serving as a magnetic compass, the compass is said to house a uniquely modified astral diamond of unknown properties. The Order allows only members to invoke it and within it is housed the collective knowledge of their Order. It is said the compass rose seemingly has a mind of its own and sometimes sends Knights of the Order on mysterious quests, granting them unusual powers necessary to complete their journey.

The Compass Rose is unique in that its only owner is the Grandmaster of the Order of the Compass. However, it will also maintain a separate Concordance with each of the Order's members. In many ways, the Grandmaster does not truly run the Order; the Compass does. Its Concordance determines promotion opportunities, demotions, even evictions.

The Compass Rose is a stern master. It is gruff with its orders, and expects those orders to be carried out without question, even if the orders don't seem to be able to be fulfilled without additional information.

A new member into the Order of the Compass is "introduced" to the artifact upon initiation. The Compass then enters the mind of the inductee to create a link that helps the Compass make assignments. If the inductee refuses the link, the person will not be admitted into the Order. Most assignments are made by the Grandmaster, but the Compass will occasionally request from the Grandmaster one or more Knights of the Compass for specific quests.

"You are truly a gift to the Order. I wish the Grandmaster were this obedient."
The Compass considers the Knight an extension of its own will. The person may one day be made Grandmaster, but for now, the Compass has more important tasks. The Compass often sends such Knights on exceedingly difficult tasks, and sometimes sends them to slay a specific Patron. Given the difficulty of the tasks set to them, such Knights do not remain this well-regarded by the Compass for long.

Property: Although you cannot spend any action points, once an encounter you can use a free action to take a minor, move or standard action. When you do so, you also gain the benefit that you would normally get from items, feats, class features, or paragon path features had you spent an action point.

Property: Once you have accomplished your mission, you may use a standard action to teleport you and up to eight individuals you can see to the entranceway of the Chapterhouse where the Compass Rose is located. This power must be invoked within eight hours after you complete your mission.

"Well done. I believe I can rely on you."
The Compass likes this Knight. The Knight is likely chosen for choice assignments, and in disputes with other Knights, the Compass may even intervene on the Knight's behalf. In return, the Compass expects fierce commitment and unquestioning obedience.

Property: Although you cannot spend any action points, once an encounter you can use a minor action to take a move or standard action. When you do so, you also gain the benefit that you would normally get from items, feats, class features, or paragon path features had you spent an action point.

Property: Once you have accomplished your mission, you may use a standard action to teleport you and up to eight individuals you can see to the entranceway of the Chapterhouse where the Compass Rose is located. This power must be invoked before you take a short or extended rest.

"We have much work to do. Do not tarry."
The Compass sees the Knight as an unremarkable member of the Order. The Knight must become noticed by the Compass through deeds related to it by other Knights before it deigns to choose this Knight for choice assignments. Many Knights spend their entire careers beneath the Compass' notice.

Property: Although you cannot spend any action points, once an encounter you may, as a move action, take a standard action. When you do so, you also gain the benefit that you would normally get from items, feats, class features, or paragon path features had you spent an action point.

Property: Once you accomplish your mission, no matter where you are, as a free action you may discern the direction to the Chapterhouse where the Compass Rose is located. This power lasts until you enter that Chapterhouse.

"You have lost your way. You must find the path again, before you are lost forever."
The Knight has violated tenets of the Order and is in danger of being ousted from the order. These Knights may be sent on quests of penance. if they continue to falter, the Compass' good graces will be withdrawn, and the Knight will be ousted form the order. Severing the bond between Compass and Knight is not without perils. Many former Knights go mad, or become obsessed with finding a way back into the Order. Such Knights are often physically scarred by the severing, and this scar is immediately recognizable to all current and former Knights of the Order.

Property: You cannot spend any action points and cannot gain any benefits one normally gains by the use of action points.

The Compass Rose does not move on -- you do. If Pleased, the Compass Rose will keep assigning more and more dangerous tasks, until the individual either perishes, or fails at enough tasks that the Compass Rose is no longer Pleased with the Knight. If Unsatisfied, the Compass Rose will simply oust the Knight from the Order and then infect him with Rosy Pox.